Only the early risers get to play Memorial

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Now I know it for a fact. And just what was it that proved this point to me?

Well, anyone that would rise from a deep sleep at 5 a.m. on a Sunday to go chase the little white ball in sub-50 degree weather should qualify.

With more than 120 golf courses in the Greater Houston area, surely one would think that I'd be able to find a tee time at a more palatable hour.

Of course I could, but this was an opportunity to play the revered Memorial Park Golf Course.

A buddy of mine suggested we play it, and since he has played many more courses in the Houston area than I have and he said Memorial is his favorite, it got my attention.

But, apparently, there is a catch.

"Here's the deal with Memorial," he said, and I should have immediately begged off, using some excuse like, "My wife won't let me," or, "I've got to clean out the garage."

"It's really hard to get a tee time there, so I go by the night before to make sure I'm first on the walk-up list for the next day," my buddy explained. "This guarantees we'll be the first on the box Sunday morning. The only catch is you have to be there and be ready to play no later than 6:30 a.m."

Of course, he had to remind me that being ready to play at 6:30 a.m. means being there by 6:15 a.m. since the last time we played I pulled into the parking lot about two minutes prior to our tee time.

That was last week, at the Creek Course at Cypresswood Golf Course, and that turned out to be one more example of what a nut I am when it comes to golf.

After watching the weathermen forecast rain and cold for Saturday, I decided that the bad weather wasn't going to come south enough to have a negative influence on my game.

Was I wrong.

About four holes into the round, the first sprinkle hit.

About two minutes later, we were standing in a steady drizzle.

As we approached the ninth hole, I stood shivering as my buddy called the clubhouse to inquire if a horn we heard was the superintendent stopping play. (I've never wished so hard for anything in my life.)

But no, the people in the clubhouse had no idea where the horn was coming from, and much to my dismay, my buddy said, "Play on."

About two holes later, everything I owned was sopping wet: my gloves, my clothes, my shoes, my clubs - you get the idea.

To make a long story seem endless, we did finally finish the round. I shot a 92, which, since it was the first time I was playing the course and because of the weather, didn't bother me too bad.

On the bright side, I know that there will be plenty of beautiful, chamber-of-commerce-type days, many of which I hope I'll be able to enjoy on the course. And at least I proved I was a real golfer by withstanding the elements and posting a score.